THE CASE OF OSCAR SLATER.
[To THB EDITOR OF SPECTATOL"]
Srn,—Perhaps it may be of interest to mention a difficulty that I sometimes meet. It is my belief that Slater had nothing whatever to do with the crime, but I have met one or two persons, and probably there are many, who are inclined to make this objection : " Even if Slater is innocent, it is better for the community that, considering his former life, he should be in prison." I do not for one moment agree with this. To me it is clear that the State should do right. That is the most important thing. But one may find that persons are influenced by that plea to refuse support which might otherwise have been given to the cause of Slater. What, then, is the best way of maintaining what one knows to be right against this plea P Our thanks are due to Sir A. Conan Doyle and to yourself for defending [It is not pleasant to think that the proposition that men are to be condemned only for the things they are proved to have done, and not because there is a general impression that they are of bad character, needs defence. We had hoped it was self-evident. It is a fundamental of justice that the State only punishes for crimes proved to have been committed, and does not attempt to send men to prison because they are suspected of having criminal proclivities. The next step would be—as in the French Revolution—to punish people for being sus- pected of being suspected. To punish only when a man is accused of a specific illegal act and proved guilty is a rule of law to which we owe our liberties. Without such a rule who could feel safe from persecution P—En. 'Spectator.]
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